The Country Music Television Awards aired from Austin, TX last night, April 2, on CBS. If you couldn’t catch it, no worries. Here’s a summary of what went down.
“Son of a Sinner” Jelly Roll was the big winner. The rapper-turned-country star took home three awards, one for Breakthrough Male Video of the Year, one for Male Video of the Year, and one for CMT Digital-First Performance of the Year. All awards were for “Son of a Sinner”.
Jelly Roll was near tears as he accepted his awards. He thanked the country radio industry and shouted out others who felt like him.
“You can be whatever you want to be. I promise you that. I told them that I wanted to be a country singer and I am standing here at the CMT Awards with the Male Video of the Year baby,” he shouted.
Other highlights from the show included:
- Kelsea Ballerini read the names of six victims killed at a school shooting that occurred last week in Nashville, TN. She started things off on a somber note.
- Five-time Grammy winner Shania Twain won the Equal Play award recognizing her as a “visible and vocal advocate” for diverse voices in country music.
- Kelsea Ballerini performed with drag artists as states across the country consider legally limiting drag show performances.
- Legendary southern rockers Lynyrd Skynyrd were honored with a tribute performance after the last original member Gary Rossington died in March.
- Kane and Katelyn Brown made history by becoming the first husband and wife duo to win the coveted Video of the Year award for their 2022 song “Thank God”. It was the first time either of them won in the category.
Other performers included Gwen Stefani, Carrie Underwood, LeAnn Rimes, Keith Urban, and Alanis Morrissette who made her CMT debut.
Although Carrie Underwood remains that biggest all-time CMT winner with a total of 25 awards from the association, she did not take home any trophies last night.